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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 08-06-02A • ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Art Jensen, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation /Resource & Education Committee DATE: August 6, 2002 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: September 3, 2002 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES NEW BUSINESS: Lakes Protection Grant - Resolution 2003 budget review Wildlife Damage claim Subdivision Review - 10:00 a.m. Vouchers UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Staff Reports: Municipal Waste - Regional - Willard Moeri CREP(Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) Education Activity Priority Watershed Projects Glen Hills Watershed - Relocation update - Pipe separation Ag Issues LESA(Land Evaluation and Site Assessment) - Work group update Aaencv Reports: FSA NRCS DNR RC &D West Central Area - Alternate representative - August 21 conservation awards ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise DATE: July 24,2002 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES UNOFFICIAL Convened: 9:00 a.m. Adjourned: 11:55 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI August 6, 2002 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Lois Burri, Chris Bethke, Jim Cody, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent None Staff Present: County Conservationist -Bob Heise; Land Specialist -Pete Kling; County Technician-Kyle Kulow; Lake Cluster Technician-Steve Olson; Program Assistant -Donna Fedie; Secretary - Arlene Lier Others Present: Steve Pernsteiner -NRCS; Willard Moeri- Village of Roberts Meeting called to order by chair Art Jensen. Raymond made motion to adopt agenda. Cody seconded. Carried. Berenschot made motion to approve the July 2, 2002 meeting minutes. Bethke seconded. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3, 2002 at 9:00 a.m. LAKES PROTECTION GRANT - RESOLUTION Heise presented resolution that would authorize the LWCD to sponsor a Lake Management Grant. The purpose of the grant is to sponsor a one -day nutrient and sediment conference in the protection of Lake St. Croix. Attendance is multi- agency and multi - disciplined. Motion by Berenschot, seconded by Bethke, to approve the resolution. Unanimous. 2003 BUDGET REVIEW Heise handed out spreadsheets of 2002 and 2003 balance forwards of all department programs as comparisons. Discussion. Heise targeted the committee on two particular totals in the spreadsheets. The overall budget in 2003 is up approximately $100,000.00 when comparing 2002. This is mostly due to wage and health increases, and additional revenues in some program areas. The other key item was the tax levy comparison. There is a projected increase of $40,000.00 in the 2003 budget over the 2002 budget. Committee will reconvene on August 16, 2002 to review the department's budget. Heise also presented to the committee that due to the lapse of time of filling the Kinnickinnic position, there is a fund balance that can be used for support costs. Heise recommended that four computers be purchased with this funding to upgrade computers within the department. Motion by Berenschot, seconded by Cody, to approve using these funds to purchase computers. Carried. WILDLIFE DAMAGE CLAIM Kulow reported: Alan & Mary Lacer have contacted the department for Wildlife Damage program assistance. They are sustaining damage to an apple orchard. The orchard was planted prior to 1990. In addition, four other individuals have contacted the department. Two will not qualify. Department will assess the other two later this summer. MUNICIPAL WASTE — REGIONAL Willard Moeri -Mayor of Roberts attended the meeting and presented a letter that was written by their legal counsel requesting a written response by the county on their position to a groundwater discharge of treated municipal effluent if a site could be located. Committee stated that their response was strictly factual to the Phase 1 report and the facility plan content. To date, the county has not received a written response from the commission or their consultant, which was requested in the county's letter, regarding the issues and concerns the county outlined in their letter with the Phase 1 report and facility plan. Committee recommended to Mr. Moeri that he consult with his commission members or consultants on responding to the county's comments. The committee concurred that their position has not changed and if the commission is to consider other groundwater discharge locations, the department staff will also review the new proposals and plans, and submit written comments within the specified timelines. The committee informed Mr. Moeri that other county departments and committees will be involved, if and when the Hammond- Roberts facilities moves forward. The Zoning department and committee will play an integral role when considering a change in land use. Mr. Moeri was also informed that a special exception permit will be required as part of the Board of Adjustment process. The Board of Adjustment meetings are public meetings and as part of the decision - making process of the B.O.A., must consider all testimony, written and oral, when considering the proposal. CREP (CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM) Heise reported that NRCS and LWCD have serviced most of the requests from the 50 landowners who were initially interested in CREP. From that current list, approximately 20 landowners have or will be signing a CREP contract or easement. There continues to be interest from landowners in CREP. EDUCATION ACTIVITY Heise reported that the department had a booth at the County Fair and will have a booth at the Farm City Day event on August 10. Ruth Stern, Information and Education Coordinator for the department, will be returning September 5 and will continue her contracted services for the department. August 21, 2002 the West Central Area will hold their business meeting in conjunction to the Area Conservation awards program. Raymond and Heise will represent department. The department is submitting nominations in various conservation award categories to the West Central area competition. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Steve Olson: Report was given for all three projects, update provided for projects completed this summer, projects under current construction, and projects slatted for fall construction. Bids were received for Cedar Creek Flume project. Brooke Excavating received the low bid of $14,649.00. They plan to start construction in mid September. Heise commented that interviews would be held for department staff on Thursday, August 8, 2002 to fill the Conservation Specialist position for the vacant Watershed position. Berenschot and Raymond will be present for the interview process. GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Relocation update - Heise reported that the relocation project is nearly complete. Department is working on final reimbursements and the transfer of title deed has been presented to Mickey Brettingen and she has released a check to the county for the payment of land and garage. Pipe separation - Heise reported that there will be a site showing of the five Glen Hills dams pipe separations to contractors on August 15, 2002. NRCS engineering staff and our department will conduct this site showing. Bid submittals will follow. Once bids are received a determination will be made of how many structures can be repaired. AGRICULTURAL ISSUES —UPDATE Heise reported that Sander has been working with Zoning and Planning department on the animal waste ordinance. There was a thought of incorporating the ordinance into the zoning ordinance, however the departments decided against that idea, not knowing when the zoning ordinance will be coming forward. The committee agreed to have this a stand -alone ordinance. Heise commented that the format will follow the similar pattern of the non - metallic mining ordinance that is currently being amended by zoning department. Committee asked the time line of completion and adoption of animal waste ordinance. Heise stated that he would not expect anything fully adopted before the end of the year. LESA (LAND EVALUATION AND SITE ASSESSMENT) A joint meeting between Land and Water and Planning, Zoning and Parks committee is planned for August 14, 2002 at the agricultural center from 7:00 — 9:00 p.m. to present the LESA system that was developed. Heise reported that the LESA document has been sent out to committee supervisors and workgroup members. Recommended that the committee take time to read the document before the presentation. LWCD, Zoning and Planning staff were presented the LESA system on July 31, 2002. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Pete Kling presented: Pine Cliff Second Addition (In part of the SE 1 /4 of the NW 1 /a and in the SW '/4 of the NE %4 of Section 26, T31N -R19W, Town of Somerset, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 62 acre development, 18 lots total, 37 acres of farmland. All LWCD comments have been addressed and a revised plan has been submitted to reflect the recent changes. All driveways for this development will be constructed concurrently with road construction. Recommended for approval. Berenschot made motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Raymond seconded. Carried. Gavir.'s Acres (In part of the SW %4 of the SW' /4 and part of the NW '/4 of the SW '/4, Section 14 and part of the NW 1 /4 of the NW '/4 and part of the NE' /4 of the NW '/4 , Section 23, all in T31N -R19W, Town of Somerset, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 55 acre development, 16 lots total, 55 acres of farmland. All LWCD concerns have been addressed and a revised plan has been submitted to reflect the regent changes. Recommended for approval. Cody made motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Bethke seconded. Carried. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Motion by Berenschot to approve vouchers. He questioned the two vouchers for Mickey Brettingen (house relocation) and the voucher for Jim Johnson/David Randall (manure storage abandonment). Seconded by Cody. Carried. FAIV I SERVICE AGENCY Jim C 3dy reported: FSA is continually doing recon's for property sales and rental agreements. • Ciop reporting ended on July 31. Tft new dairy program support is up to 2,400,000 pounds (150 cows). There are approximately a dozen producers who are going to exceed the 2.4 million pounds. NAT RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE Steve Pernsteiner reported: The t1ree summer students working for NRCS were introduced at the start of the meeting. Steve reported that Patricia Leavenworth, NRCS State Conservationist, will be on temporary duty as Deputy National Conservationist for programs until December. Don Baloun will be acting State Conservationist. Fourte en (14 ) new applications for the EQIP program have been received. Most of these applications are fog• nutrient management in the Willow River Watershed. This is in response to the Turkey Store requesting farmers receiving their manure, have a nutrient plan. Steve reported meeting with the Willow River Rehab District during their annual meeting. They are interested in the possibility of sponsoring an intern to do a thorough study of the Willow River Water shed. They asked that Bob and Steve get back to them at their October meeting. DNR No report. RC & Berenschot reported: He was unable to attend the recent state meeting. RC &D office is working on putting together the national Grazers Conference. RC &D will have a booth at the annual WLWCA conference. • Next council meeting will be a joint meeting with the Minnesota council on August 22 at St. Croix Falls. WEST CENTRAL AREA Heise commented that he received an e-mail from Jean Schomish shortly after the West Central summer tour requesting counties to submit names of the supervisor and alternative supervisor who plan to serve on the West Central Area Association. Jensen agreed to be the alternate member of the West Central Area Association. Area Conservation Award nominations will be selected on August 21, 2002 as part of the West Central Area meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Kling reported: • Special deep well casing area - town of Warren/Hudson — Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are the reason for this new area. • Nonpoint Education of Municipal Officers (MEMO) is holding meeting on 8/13/02. Kling has been contacted by NEMO coordinators about interest from local municipalities. • Friends of Perch Lake have named a third chair for the Learning & Reception Center fundraising campaign - Hollis Grubb (North Hudson resident and former Hudson book store owner). Heise informed the committee that he received notice from Deb Kathan, Personnel Director, that the Land and Water Conservation staff voted in favor of becoming unionized. Chair Jensen made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:55 a.m. Seconded by Raymond. Carried. Jim Cody Secretary